US718507A - Machine for manufacturing building-blocks. - Google Patents

Description

No. 718,507. PATENATED JAN. 13, 1903.

- L. P. NORMANDIN.

Q MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOGKSZ v ABPLIOATION FILED we. 4, 1902. N0 MODEL. s snnms-snnm 1.

llllllljl llllllllllllT Emma for ZEVL P brmawozjru No. 718,507. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903. L; P. NORMANDIN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TWVnOr. l L P. WormocrLa/un m: cams PETERS co. FHOTO-LITNO I wnsummcm o. c.

PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

. L. P. NORMANDIN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902p s SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

7h/a2d07 ja/z 7. JV ormccwalu n/ me NORRIS PETERS ca, Pam-mums WASHINGTON, n c

LEVI P. NORMANDIN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO WILLIAM 'F. COWHAM, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING-BLOCKS.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,507, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed August 4., 1902. Serial No. 118,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI P. NORMANDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Building-Blocks, of which the follow ing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for the manufacture of building-blocks, being more especially designed for use in the formation of blocks from a plastic mixture of artificial stone.

The invention consists in certain features of construction by which the machine may be readily adjusted for forming blocks of different sizes and proportions, the operation of forming the block simplified, and the block when formed may be more readily removed without danger of injury.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine, showing the outer mold in its open position and the cores retracted. Fig. 2 is across-section with the parts in position for the formation of ablock. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through the machine, illustrating the manner of lifting off the formed block. Fig. at is a perspective View of the bottom supporting-plate for the block. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine as adjusted for forming an angle-block. Fig. 5 is a detail of the hinge connection between two of the plates of the outer mold. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lifting-off device. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the divisionplate detached. Fig. 8 is a section through the mold, showing the division-plate in position. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the engagingends of two of the mold-plates. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a block formed by the machine.

The machine belongs to that type designed for the manufacture of hollow blocks and in which the chambers or hollow spaces within the block are formed by cores projecting into the mold through the supporting-bed and subsequently retracted before the removal of the block.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide means for more readily removing the block after it is formed and while the material is yet in a plastic condition without danger of injury. This is usually accomplished bysupporting the block within the mold upon a removable bottom plate which is subsequently lifted by hooks or lifters engaging with the opposite'end of said plate. As the weight of the material used in forming a large block is considerable and as the bottom plates are comparatively thin, it has been found in practice that these plates will sagin the middle, with the result that the block is injured.

In the present construction the block supported upon the bottom plate when removed from the mold is first slid laterally upon a bed or table, which prevents any sagging, and is then lifted by a device in which the load is distributed on a number of bearing-points intermediate the ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single locking device for securing the removable side plates of the mold in position.

It is a further object to provide means for accurately positioning these side plates, so that all the molded articles will be uniform in size and shape for each adjustment ofthe machine.

It is a further object to provide means for readily adjusting the mold to form blocks of different sizes and of either rectangular or L shaped configuration, and, still further, it is an object to provide means of forming within the hollow spaces of the block lifting-shoulders for the subsequent engagement of the lifter in the setting of the block in the wall.

As shown in'the drawings, A is a suitable bed or table upon which the mold is supported. This bed is mounted upon standards, such as B, and has formed at one end thereof the apertures 0, through which the raising and lowering cores D may be passed. The cores D are secured to the verticallymovable cross-head E,having at opposite sides thereof shoes F, engaging with guideways G on the standards B.

The cross-head E is adapted to be raised or lowered by means of racks H, secured thereto, which engage with segmental gears I, secured to the rock-shaft J. This rock-shaft is journaled in suitable bearings upon the standards B and is provided at one end with the operating-lever K, preferably provided with a locking-latch L for engaging a segment M. Thus by the movement of the lever K the shaft may be rocked to raise or lower the head E, thereby projecting the cores D above the bed or retracting the same.

The core D is preferably formed in a plurality of sections, so as to produce in the finished block oueor more cross-ribs between the separate walls toimpart additional strength thereto. As shown in Fig. 2, three sections are used, the outer sections ct and I) being of greater length than the intermediate section 0.

In the manufacture of the blocksit is often desirable to make blocks which are a fraction of the length of the full block, the other dimensions remaining the same. The machine is therefore provided with a partition-plate, and this is constructed to be placed in the position of one of said cores. In order that this may be done, the cores 1) and c are removable and are secured to the cross-head E by engagement with upwardlyprojecting shanks d, extending centrally within said cores.

In forming the lifting-shoulders before referred to the cores CL and b are preferably provided upon opposite sides thereof with projecting bosses 6. These, as shown, extend from the bottom of the core to a point a short distance from the top thereof, and their upper edges are preferably formed to make a square shoulder in the block.

N is a bottom supporting-plate for the block. This may be formed of a casting having therein apertures correspondingin size and position to the sections of the core D. Upon opposite sides of these apertures are formed grooves g for the purpose of producing in the finished block a bead or rib. The object of this rib is to support the block when placed in position in the wall with the spaces therebetween for the mortar. It has been found in practice in molding blocks provided with ribs of this character that frequently in removing the blocks from the mold the ribs are stripped off. Where this is the case, the result is that the block will be thrown out of level in the wall, and in case both of the ribs are completely stripped off no space will be left for the mortar. In the present construction the grooves g for forming these ribs are in the form of a broken line, so that in removing the stone if a portion of the rib is stripped the fracture will only extend to the first break in the line. As shown in Fig. 4, the grooves are of a zigzag form; but any other form may be used in place of this, provided that the line is broken up into a number of sections.

The outer mold for forming the block is supported upon the bed A and is preferably of the following construction: The longer sides of the mold extend transversely of the bed A, while the shorter sides extend longitudinally thereof. The side adjacent to the edge of the bed is preferably formed of two sections 0 and P. The section 0 is of angle shape, one side h thereof being in alinement with the section P, while the other side '11 projects rearwardly therefrom. The object of forming the plate in this manner is for convenience in the manufacture of angle-blocks, the plate 0 forming the inner side of the angle and the plate P being removed. This plate 0 is preferably secured to the bed by bolts or screws; but in order that blocks of different width may be formed the position of the plate on the bed is preferably adj ustable. To this end a plurality of apertures may be formed in the bed, through which the screw-boltsj are passed. The plate P is also preferably bolted to the table and is correspondingly adjustable in position.

At opposite ends of the sides just described are arranged plates Q, and R. The plate Q, is pivoted to the bed at the end adjacent to the plate 0. The plate R is also pivoted to the bed, but is of greater length than the plate Q, the pivotal point being located some distance in rear of the plate P, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus where the plate P is removed from alinement with the plate 0 the plate R will be of sufficient length to form the side of the angle-block, and the plate P may be secured in position, as indicated in dotted lines at P, to form the end of the angle. The remaining side of the mold is formed by the plate S, which is hinged at one end to the plate R and at its opposite end is adapted to detachably engage with the plate Q. The hinged joint between the plates R and S is preferablyformed as shown in Fig. 5,in which two lugs and 7c extend,respectively,from the plates R and S and form stops which preventthe hinge from turning beyond a certain angle. Thus if the plate S be swung outward from its normal position it will first turn upon its pivotal connection with the plate R until the stops 7; and 70' come together, after which a further movement will cause the plate R to swing around its pivot R.

The plates S and Q are adapted to be locked to each other by means of a projecting lug l 011 the plate S engaging with a recess m in the plate Q.

T is a locking-latch pivotally secured to the plate Q and having a wedge-shaped hook or finger 71, adapted to engage with a bearing 0 upon the lug Z, the arrangement being such that when the lug Z is in the recess m and the latch T is engaged therewith the finger n will wedge against the bearing 0 and lock the parts together.

In order that the mold may be changed in size,it is not only necessary to adjust the plates 0 and P, as before described, but also the plate S, so as to form an equal thickness of material upon opposite sides of the core D. This adjustment may be effected by changing the pivotal point of the plate R, and the pivot R is therefore adapted to engage with any one of a plurality of apertures 19 in the bed. An adjustment in position of the pivot R necessitates a corresponding adjustment at the opposite end of the mold, and this is effected by providinga removable block (1 in the recess m, by which the depth of said recess may be varied. The plate Qis provided with a flange r for normally overlapping the plate S, which in addition to the latch T serves to hold said plates in fixed relation. Whenever the block q is removed, the flange 7 will no longer bear against the plate Q, and I have therefore provided detachable blocks 3, which form the required bearings at top and bottom of the plate. It will thus be understood that by adjusting the position of the pivot-R and correspondingly adjusting the blocks q and s and the plates 0 and P either a narrow or wider block may be formed in the mold. In order to form recesses in the ends of the block corresponding to the hollow spaces formed by the core D, the plates Q and B may be provided with bosses 15 upon their inner faces, as shown in Fig. 5.

As before stated, it is frequently desired to form a block of lesser length than the standard size. To accomplish this, one of the cores is removed from its connecting-shank d, and in place thereof a division-plate U is engaged with said shank. This divisionplate has formed centrally thereof the bosses '11,, which are of a form corresponding to the core removed. Thus when the division-plate is used and the block is cut off thereby the bosses u will form a recess in the block corresponding to that which is normally formed by the coreD.

The blocks are frequently made with a bulging front and fiat border in representation of out stone. Where a mold having this style of block is used and it is also desired to use a division-plate, I preferably provide thelatterwithabulgingprojectionofor fitting within the hollow of the mold-plate. This portion 2; also projects laterally from the plate U, so as to form opposite flanges w, one of which serves to produce a fiat border on the shortened block corresponding to the border on the full block. The portion 1) is preferably detachably secured to the plate U by means of screws to, so that the same division-plate may be used where a rectangular block is formed.

As before described, I have provided means for lifting off the complete block without danger of injuring the same by the sagging of the bottom plate. To accomplish this, the bed A is provided at the opposite end from the mold with a series of projecting arms V. These are preferably of substantially the full width of the plate N, so that said plate after the block is formed thereon may be slid over the bed on said arms. For lifting it off I have provided a lifter W, which is provided with a series of tines y, adapted to be inserted between the arms V. These tines are connected to an upwardly-extending arm y and this in turn to a laterally-extending arm 11 which extends to the center of the block when The lifting-cable supported upon the tines. may be attached to the arm by a suitable device, such as 2, and this, if desired, may be adj ustably connected to the arms if, so as to change its position in difierent widths of blocks. The tines y are preferably provided at their shank ends with shoulders y which form stops against which the edge of the plate N may bear.

The parts being constructed as shown and described, the operation of forming the block with the machine is as follows: If a square block is to be made, the plates 0 and P are first properly positioned and the pivot R and blocks (1 and s adjusted, as before described, to set the mold for a given Width of block. When this is accomplished and the plate N is placed in position, the lugZ is engaged with a recess m and locked by the latch T. This lock' serves to hold all of theplates in position, inasmuch as the plates 0 and P are firmly attached to the bed and the plates Q, R, and S are connected to each other, as well as to the bed. The lever K is then operated to raise the core D, after which the plastic material is placed in the mold and tamped or pressed by any suitable means. (Not shown.) When the mold is filled, the cores may first be retracted bythe movement of thelever K, after which the latch T is disengaged and the plate Q is turned upon its pivot to be free from the side of the moldblock. The plate S is then swung by the operator until the steps and Z0 come into engagement, after which a continuation of the movement will swing the plate R. Both plates may thus be moved in the position shown in Fig. 1, so as not only to separate the plates from the block, but also to place them out of the way of said block when it is subsequently slid over the bed. For moving the plate N,with the block supported thereon, over the bed and onto the arms V the edge of the plate N has preferably formed therein recesses N, and in these recesses may be in serted a handled hook, such as N by means of which the operator may slide the plate over the bed. When in position on the arms V, the lifter W, which is attached to any suitable hoisting device, (not shown,) may be engaged beneath the plate N, and thus said plate may be lifted and removed to a position where it remains until the block is hardened.

In the manufacture of building-blocks it is necessary that a certain number of blocks be made with apertures in the sides thereof for receiving the floor-joists. I have therefore provided my machine with means for the manufacture of such blocks. As shown in Fig. 3, O is a block or form which is bolted or otherwise secured to the stationary plate 0 upon the bed. This block 0 is arranged to extend from the plate 0 into contact with the core D. The lower face of the block also preferably contacts with the baseplate N,

while the upper face is arranged some distance below the top of the plate 0. With this construction in forming the block the cementitious material is tamped into the mold around the block 0 and covering the same. Thus when the block is formed it may be removed in the manner before described by drawing it laterally from the plate 0. The resulting block will be provided with apertures on one side thereof, each of which is of a size to receive the ends of the joists, while above these apertures sufficient material is left to impart the required strength to the block. Inasmuch as the form 0 is secured to the stationary plate 0 and the formed block is withdrawn laterally therefrom, it is evident that a practically square shoulder may be made by the upper face of the form 0 without preventing disengagement. The advantage of this is that it is sometimes desirable to reverse the blocks, so that the joists would then rest upon this shoulder. This could not be satisfactorily done if the shoulder were tapered, inasmuch as there would be a tendency for the joist to then disengage from the wall.

In withdrawing the cores from the molded blank it is essential that they be arranged in exactly vertical position, so as not to injure the side of the block. This necessitates the maintaining of the cross-head level, and this in turn makes it necessary that the segmental racks be accurately clamped upon the shaft J. I have therefore provided the frame of my machine with leveling-lugs G, connecting to a cross-bar G said lugs being arranged on opposite sides of the frame and adapted to support the cross-head E when lowered. In first adjusting the machine the cross-head is lowered to rest on these lugs, while the segmental racks I are loose, and these are then secured to the shaft J by setscrews I. It is evident that the racks thus set will maintain the cross-head level during this movement, and should it accidently become displaced at any time it may be readily reset.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. A machine for molding buildingblocks com prising a bed,a plate rigidly secured thereto to project vertically therefrom and forming one side of the mold, a bottom plate for the mold adapted to be placed adjacent to said plate and hinged plates forming complementary sides of the mold adapted to be locked in position around said bottom plate, and when unlocked to be swung clear of the same to permit of a lateral withdrawal of said bottom plate with the molded block thereon.

2. A machine for molding building-blocks comprising a bed, a mold bottom plate supported thereon, and an articulated frame adapted to be locked rigidly to said bed around said plate, said frame being also adapted to be swung to clear said plate and mold-block thereon to permit of lateral withdrawal thereof upon said bed.

3. A machine for molding building-blocks comprising a bed, a mold bottom plate thereon, side mold-sections upon said bed and surrounding said bottom plate being laterally separable to permit of the lateral removal of said plate and the mold-block thereon, separate arms projecting laterally from said bed and upon which said bottom plate is adapted to he slid, said arms forming a plurality of supporting-bearings distributed over the length of said plate to prevent sagging thereof, and the space between permitting of the engagement of a lifter. v

4. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with a bed, of a mold side projecting upward therefrom and formed in two sections, one section having an outwardly-projecting angle-flange and the other section being laterally adjustable upon said bed in adjacence to said flange whereby either a straight or an angle block may be formed.

5. In a machine for molding buildingblocks,the combination with a bed,of an angleplate rigidly secured thereto laterally-removable sides respectively parallel to the sides of said angle-plate and adjoining each other and end plates for completing the mold extending across between said angle-plate and parallel plates, one of said end plates being adjustable into alinement with one side of said angleplate whereby either straight or angle blocks may be formed.

6. In a machine for molding buildingblocks,the combination with a bed of an angleplate rigidly secured thereto, hinged plates arranged parallel to the outer faces of said angle-plate said plates being hinged to each other and one of them being pivotally secured at its outer end to the bed, and a swinging plate at one end of said angle-plate having its free end extending to the free end of said hinged plate, means forlocking said free ends together and a cross-plate for the other end of said angle-plate, adjustable upon said bed to complete either an angle ora straight mold.

7. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with a bed, of a rectangular mold mounted thereon having separable sides, one of said sides being stationary, two opposite sides being pivoted to said bed at opposite ends of said stationary plate and the third side being hinged to one of said pivoted plates and means for locking the free end of the latter plate to the' free end of the other pivoted plate.

8. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with a bed, of a mold thereon having separable sides, one side being pivoted to said bed and an adjacent side being hinged thereto and stops in the adjacent ends of said plate for limiting the swing of said hinge, whereby said hinged plate may be swung independently to disengage the same from the molded block and a further swinging movement imparted thereto will also swing said pivoted plate.

9. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with a bed, of an articulated mold mounted thereon, and a lock for adjoining separable sections of said mold, comprising a lug on one member engaging a recess in the other member, a flange on said lug and a pivoted latch on the opposite memher forengaging said flange to clamp the sections together.

10. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with an apertured bed, of a shank for securing a detachable core projecting upward through said aperture, an outer mold mounted upon said" bed adapted to surround said core, and a division-plate for said mold having a core-section integral therewith and attachable to said shank.

11. In a machine for molding buildingblocks, the combination with an outer mold having a side thereof fashioned to form a bulging central portion and a flat margin, of a division-plate for said mold having a side flange for forming a corresponding fiat margin on the divided block.

12. In a machine of the character described the combination with a bed and supporting-frame therefor of the mold upon said bed, a core vertically removable through said bed, a cross-head carrying said core, means for raising and lowering said cross-head, and leveling-lugs upon said frame upon which said cross-head is adapted to rest in its low ered position.

13. In a machine of the character described the combination with a bed and sup- 3 porting-frame therefor of the molds supported upon said bed, a core vertically removable through said bed, a cross-head carrying said core cooperating racks and gear-segments for raising said cross-head,a shaft upon which said gear-segments are clamped and leveling-lugs upon said frame adapted to support said cross-head in its lowered position andforming means for accurately setting said gear-segments upon said shaft. 4

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI P. NORMANDIN. Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, A. G. ROBERTSON.

Images